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This report by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) addresses the relocation of residents in Tudor Shaft Informal Settlement due to potential health effects caused by radiation hazards. It discusses the role of the NNR, protective actions, potential health effects, and other important considerations. The report concludes that the NNR must take action to protect the residents while considering socio-economic factors.
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The NNR Report & Relocation of Residents in Tudor Shaft Informal Settlement Adv Boyce Mkhize & Orion Phillips National Nuclear Regulator Date: 1 March 2011
Table of Contents • Background information • Role of the NNR • Potential health effects • Plan of Action regarding protection measures • Other important considerations • Conclusions
Background Information • Tudor Shaft informal settlement is situated within the precinct of the Mogale City Local Municipality close to Krugersdorp. • Tudor Shaft informal settlement was established as far back as 1996 as a result of relocating informal dwellers that were living at the landfill site a few kilometers away from Mogale City. • The intention of the municipality was that it was to be a temporary site after dwellers were evicted from the landfill site.
Role of the NNR • The mandate of the NNR is to protect persons, property, and the environment from radiation hazards. • It was reported to the NNR by civil society that shacks were located on tailings material in the informal settlement. The NNR conducted a radiological survey in July 2010 to assess the safety of the site. This was a screening assessment. • The NNR found that there were higher than background radiation levels on the site although these levels still fall within the safety margin of the standards prescribed by the NNR.
Role of the NNR (Cont) • A more comprehensive and rigorous study to characterize the area should be undertaken. • As a precautionary measure, the NNR recommended the relocation of the dwellers. • The risk of radiation exposure must be assessed in terms of other non-radiological risks, such as chemical pollution. The pre-cautionary principle was applied in making a recommendation to the local municipality.
Role of the NNR (Cont) • A coordinated approach with all affected stakeholders is required in order to provide a coherent and comprehensive intervention to the radiation and other health concerns in this and other neighbouring areas. • The NNR is part of the Remediation Steering Committee (Wonderfonteinspruit) which overseas the issues from a holistic view.
Status of Informal Settlement • A meeting was held between Councillors, families, and officials on 9 February 2011. • It was decided only to relocate families residing on tailings dams and that will be affected by flooding. • 41 families are affected. • Seven families have been moved so far to an area southwards on the same erf. • The municipality is in negotiation with the 35 other families to be also relocated.
Potential health effects During the radiation survey conducted by the NNR to following hazards were identified: • A potential hazard posed by children ingesting uraniferous tailings material while playing outside. • Potential exposure from radon in shacks that are poorly ventilated, greater than 1 mSv/annum. • Potential external radiation exposure from tailings material, at about 4 mSv/annum. • Internal exposure hazard from radioactive dust that becomes airborne.
Control Measures for Radioactive Material Control measures for tailings material are as follows: • If excavations are carried out, material should be suppressed. • Discharges such as liquid effluent must be controlled. • To treat radioactive material it can be processed like ore and the uranium can be extracted from it. • Material can be diluted with other material of lower activity concentration.
Other hazards in the area • The informal settlement is situated close to manganese dumps. • The surface area of the informal settlements is within a wetland that is saturated with heavy metals. There is a direct risk of flooding. • There are old open mining shafts in the area which will also give rise to radon emissions emanating from a disused underground area.
Plan of Action for the NNR • NNR needs to ensure that protection actions are undertaken in order to reduce doses to members of the public living in the area. • This includes the need to relocate, implement protective actions, and restrict the habits regarding the land use. • Carry out more surveys that assesses the potential radiological hazards. • Introduce interventions that ensure that members of the public are not exposed to excessive levels of radiation.
Other important considerations • Protective actions could be disruptive to members of the public. • People become displaced and could be socially more disadvantaged than before. • Actions like relocation has implications for the local election process. • Planning undertaken for housing developments would need to be re-prioritized.
Conclusions • The NNR is obliged to act within its mandate to offer protection of persons, property, and environment from radiation hazards. • Protective actions also seek to take into account socio-economic factors of populations that may be exposed to radiological hazards. • The NNR will need to resource itself and adopt a plan of work for the protection of persons residing in informal settlements that are in close proximity to uraniferous tailings material.
